Friday, June 6, 2008

You all know the fantastic - and totally free - Google Earth, don't you? I did an article some months ago telling you how to use it at its best and how to virtually "soar" over all the Disney theme parks in the world - if you've missed the article, you can find it HERE.

Now, there is something new between Walt Disney World and Google Earth and it's great and stunning. Here is the press release that will tell you all about it, better than i can do!

Walt Disney World Resort in 3D takes vacation planning to new heights as the most detailed 3D rendering within Google Earth to dateBurbank, Calif. (June 5, 2008) – Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is harnessing the power of Google Earth™ to build an interactive, three-dimensional tour of Walt Disney World Resort that brings you one step closer to a true park experience. With direct links to Disney’s online travel-planning tools, Walt Disney World Resort in 3D will re-invent how people plan and book vacations.

Beginning today, Disney guests can use Google Earth, a program which offers a 3D digital model of the world, to virtually tour Walt Disney World’s four theme parks, as well as its 22 hotels and resorts. An overview of Walt Disney World Resort in 3D, along with instructions on how to get started, can be found at www.disneyworld.com/3dparks. Existing Google Earth 4.3 users can see Walt Disney World Resort in 3D by enabling the “Gallery” folder within Google Earth, or by selecting any of the 3D buildings within the resort.

“You know the phrase ‘next best thing to being there’? Walt Disney World Resort in 3D is going to deliver on that,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Guests and travel planners can now explore our world with just a few clicks of a mouse, and they can book vacations while being immersed in what the destination has to offer.”

Disney’s digital mapping project, Walt Disney World Resort in 3D, will become the ultimate online travel guide for Walt Disney World Resort, integrating the Google Earth 3D experience with the planning features of Disney.com. Whether guests book through the Disney reservation center, a travel agent or online, nearly nine out of ten Walt Disney World guests use the internet to plan their vacations and Walt Disney World Resort in 3D provides the latest technology available to enhance that experience. From Google Earth, guests and travel planners can click on images of their favorite attractions and hotels to purchase tickets, make reservations, and map out the vacation that is right for their families – in 3D and with the click of a mouse. Disneyworld.com visitors can view videos and other information about viewing Walt Disney World in 3D at www.disneyworld.com/3dparks.

The depth and vivid detail of Walt Disney World Resort in 3D project makes this a unique, truly immersive experience within Google Earth. Visitors begin their virtual tour of Disney World with a stratospheric view of the globe, a starting point familiar to anyone who has ever used Google Earth. A skydive takes visitors past the flatlands of Florida to a view of the Seven Seas Lagoon in the Magic Kingdom. Guests can then fly through the streets and explore in and around the hotels and resorts, down Main Street to Cinderella Castle, from the heights of The Tower of Terror to base of the Tree of Life. To enter the virtual park:

Download Google Earth 4.3 by visiting www.disneyworld.com/3dparks.Launch Google Earth and search for 'Disney World'Click the Mickey Ears to open an info window.In the info window, click “Show Disney World in 3D.” Now explore!“This is the most detailed 3D rendering undertaken within Google Earth to date,” continued Rasulo. “The work done here will provide a professional counterpart to the wealth of Disney images and 3D models from around the world contributed by thousands of volunteers. The difference Walt Disney World Resort in 3D provides is one of scope and interaction.”

During the project’s first phase, eight photographers worked for 10 days to shoot all the visible surfaces of Walt Disney World, including every building façade. A total 100,000 photos were taken in all; these became the start for some 1,500 3D models that populate the virtual tour. Walt Disney World Resort in 3D creates a new level of usability for vacation planners and makes detailed information about one of the world’s foremost destinations available to Google Earth’s 350 million users, furthering the Google Earth team’s goal of recreating the world as it really is. (end of press release)

Now, i just tried it, an i must say that the result is really amazing: i went to the Magic Kingdom, and they've really recreated in 3D every building, and even the trees! Instead to have a flat view shoot from the sky, you can do your own "travelling" inside each land, nd even if nothing replace the real thing, it's fun to experience it. The pictures above are coming from Disney, but the one below is a screen capture from my computer showing the Mark Twain the Riverboat landing and the Haunted Mansion in 3D...

Go ahead, try this new WDW on Google Earth, and let me know what you think of it, it worth the look, really !

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Editor's note: For somebody who was supposed to take some rest and stop new topics every day, i must say that i look a little bit ridiculous as i keep posting new topics almost every day! I'm sure none of you will complain about this, but this doesn't mean i will keep posting every day, in fact all this depends if i have a fast internet connection available where i am, or not. Until now, i always succeed to find one, which is perfect for my ( and your ) blog addiction! Anyway, don't miss the new Wall-E "Meet the characters" video below! TAlso, the first reviews by lucky people who saw the full movie are excellent, which is good news and don't surprise me!And, if you want to see pictures of Universal Studios after the fire, go on Miceage.com. Sad news, Universal announced that the King Kong attraction which has been destroyed by the fire won't be re-built but will be replaced by a brand new attraction.

A new video was released by Disney introducing the Wall-E main characters. As usual, it is supposed to be the Buy N' Large company - the fictitious company manufacturing the robots in the "future" - that introduce them.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Finally, this huge fire at Universal Studios was much more destructive than i thought previously as there is, very unfortunately, a total loss of the backlot areas that include the N.Y. Streets, much of Courthouse Square and the King Kong attraction.

If you want to see what has been lost forever, do not miss Al Lutz update on Miceage.com where Al show pictures of all the decors - pictures shoot, of course, before the fire.

Also below a Youtube video of yesterday's fire. All this is very sad, really...

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Not a happy news today, but the theme park part of Universal City in Los Angeles was, thanks god, not the part on fire, "only" a Studio Lot. However some of the flames reach the height of 30 meters ( 90 feet ) which, i must say, is quite high...

A fire broke out at the Universal Studios backlot before dawn this morning, spreading to encompass more than two city blocks.While the fire has been nearly contained, the studio's video vault was damaged and still burning as of 9:30 am PST. A Los Angeles Fire Dept. spokesman said he expected that the blaze would require another hour's work before it could be exinguished.

The studio's film vault, which is lined in concrete and lead and contains irreplaceable film negatives, was not affected.

The fire destroyed many sets, especially those in the lot's New York section, as well as the King Kong amusement that is featured on Universal Studios' backlot tram tour.

More than 200 firefighters were called to the scene. Three firefighters have been sent to the hospital with what was described as minor injuries, including heat exhaustion.

Meyer dismissed reporters' inquiries about the possibility that a bomb threat had been called in shortly befor the fire began. "None of us have heard this," he said.

The fire began on the lot's New York soundstage and quickly spread. Universal Tours spokesman Eliot Sekular said the theme park's opening will be delayed until noon today, with the tour resuming Monday. He said the hotels, restaurants, theaters and other venues at the theme park and its adjoining CityWalk were not affected, and the MTV Awards will be held as scheduled.

However, Meyer confirmed that the fire damaged two sets for the CBS drama "The Ghost Whisperer" and "completely destroyed" a set that most recently housed "The Changeling," a Warner Bros. Pictures feature directed by Clint Eastwood that had it premiere at tlast month's Cannnes Film Festival.

Meyer also confirmed that a commercial had been shooting this weekend on the lot's New York street.

According to fire department spokesman, the fire fighting may have beein initially compromised by problems with insufficient water pressure. He praised the fire fighters' "innovative and creative" solutions, which included drawing water from the backlots' ponds and lakes. The fire consumed 18,000 gallons of water per minute.

Universal's New York street was destroyed by fire once before, in 1990. The set was rebuilt with reengineered facades that were meant to offer fire retardation and protection, but a fire department spokesman said that today's blaze overwhelmed those safety measures.

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